When Miranda Cummins borrows a friend’s cabin to finish
writing her long overdue book, she’s surprised to find the one-room retreat
already occupied by Kevin Mathews. Though she feels a spontaneous attraction
for Kevin, Miranda has recently escaped a controlling husband and isn’t ready
for a long-term relationship.

Unsatisfied with his occupation, Kevin is at a
crossroads. Miranda understands and encourages him to look at the direction his
life is going. Fired up by her encouragement, Kevin returns to Forest Ridge to
resume his firefighting career.

When Miranda is threatened by her ex-husband, Kevin
realizes he will do anything to protect her. Miranda has shown Kevin a new
passion for life. Can he fan the flames of passion into an Everlasting Love?

EXCERPT

Miranda Cummings inhaled the fresh fir scent the
moment she opened the door of her Chevy Impala-the fragrance of freedom. The
cold, crisp air bit at her warm cheeks yet she felt exhilarated. Gravel and
slushy snow crunched under her shoes as she hurried around her car. Opening the
passenger door she picked up her overnight bag and placed the strap on her
shoulder then she added her computer bag. Not wanting to make another trip out
in the cold, she hooked several grocery bags on each hand. With one swift hip
movement, she closed the door.

Gingerly she walked up the three snow-covered, wooden
steps to the deck. Focusing on her weekend of solitude, she quickened her pace
to the cabin on her right.

“Can I help you?” a deep baritone voice startled
Miranda causing her to fling her arms out and drop one of her grocery bags.

Intent on carrying her belongings into the cabin, she
hadn’t seen or heard the man behind her. Turning around, she froze. Reclined in
an old-fashioned, white cast iron bathtub with claw feet, the man appeared
relaxed, content and not at all perturbed as he bathed on a deck outside.

Steam rose from his warm water into the cold air.
Water dripped from his short brown hair and glistened on his muscular torso.
She suppressed the desire to caress the breadth of his wide shoulders. Stubble
darkened his face with a day’s growth of beard. His rugged good looks caused
her heart to flutter.

“I must have made a wrong turn…“ She couldn’t tear
her gaze from his broad chest. As the water droplets traveled down his body her
gaze followed suit. Miranda realized the hunk of a man was not only tranquil
but also very naked. His muscular arms, which rested on the edges of the tub,
could easily wrap around her. She wanted to feel his strength, his support from
those strong arms. “…somewhere,” her voice squeaked.

He reached down and picked up a can of beer, which
sat on the deck. Tipping the can back he took a swig then set the beer beside
the tub. “Where were you going?”

His pecks rippled when he moved. Look at his face
not his chest, Miranda scolded herself. “A friend of mine has a cabin up
here.”

She glanced at the A-frame structure to her right
nestled in a grove of fir trees where she’d intended to spend a couple of
nights off the beaten path.Flower boxes below the two paned windows
held browned plants from winter’s frost. The plumbing’s primitive her friend
had said, which would explain a bathtub on the deck. The cabin in front of her
fit her friend’s description.

“Abby Denton, I mean Chambers. Abby Chambers said I
could stay at their cabin for a few days.” Confident she’d found the right
place Miranda met his gaze.

She shifted the packages to her left hand and pulled
a GPS device from her coat pocket. “I was a little confused on which road to
take at the bottom of the hill.” She couldn’t stop rambling in her attempt to
hide her obvious desire for this man.

Miranda looked toward the front of the cabin again.
When she heard water splash, she stole a quick glance in his direction
wondering if he’d gotten out of the tub.

He tilted his beer back for another drink then
returned it to the deck. “You found the right place.” His angular features
appeared stern and unyielding.

“Oh good.” Her shoulders lowered, relaxed. “How long
until you leave?” Miranda’s gaze held his. She’d planned a quiet weekend which
did not include a ruggedly, attractive man. Even with the snow falling around
them she felt overly warm and knew the man in front of her caused her flush.

“Lady, it took me half an hour to fill this tub. If
you don’t mind, I’m staying in here till the water’s ice cold,” the man’s rich
voice drew her attention to his firm chin and broad, enticing smile which
reflected in his eyes. “Then I plan to have a good night’s sleep in there.” His
toned arm lifted as he pointed toward the cabin.

The man’s brows rose suggestively and Miranda
wondered if he knew she found him appealing in a primitive, sexual way. He
winked. He knew.

Miranda needed solitude, a chance to put her thoughts
on paper. She had a deadline. Within three weeks, her editor required a
completed manuscript on her desk. Since she filed for divorce, six months ago,
Miranda found writing a romance novel impossible. To create a story of
everlasting love was now ridiculous. She knew first hand there was no such
thing as happily ever after.

“Obviously Abby and her brother Scott don’t
communicate very well. Scott allowed me use of the cabin for the weekend.” The
man shrugged his shoulders, his firm pecks lifted with ease.

Tiny snowflakes continued to drift down and stick to
the frozen, wooden deck around her. Twilight settled around them with a
darkening cloud-filled sky, which held a promise of more snow. Frustrated from
the drive up the road, Miranda had no desire to turn around and drive back to
town on a snowy mountain road especially at this time of night. She slipped the
GPS unit back in her coat pocket. Her stomach churned; she desired this time as
much as the stranger in the tub wanted a retreat. She needed a break so bad
Miranda was willing to share the cabin with the man she’d just met.

“We could share the place. I’ll stay in my room and
you won’t even know I’m here.” She tried to wave her hand in the air but the
bags in her grasp forestalled the movement.

The man’s humorous laugh rumbled deep in his chest,
causing excitement to dance through her.

“You’ve never stayed here before?” his reply was more
of a statement than a question.

Miranda shook her head. “No. Why?”

“The cabin has one room.” He held up the index finger
of his right hand. “Not one bedroom but one room. Kitchen, living area and bed
are all in one room.” He studied her face.

Determined to hold her ground and not reveal her
feelings, she tried to maintain a neutral expression on her face. The packages
suddenly weighed her arms down and strained against her fingers. Miranda didn’t
know how much longer she could hold them.

“If you’ll excuse me, my water is now cold and I’m
getting out of the tub,” he stated matter-of-factly.

Miranda froze. She was unable to move and incapable
of taking her eyes off his powerful male form. Reaching for a towel, which
rested on a chair beside the tub, he started to stand up. She looked toward the
cabin again. Could she spend the weekend in the small cabin with this stranger?
She shook her head. The fact she didn’t know him wouldn’t be the challenge. The
knowledge she’d spend the time with a virile, handsome man was what stopped
her.

When she returned her attention to him, the towel was
securely wrapped around his lower torso. With a desire for her fingers to run
along the edge of the towel, Miranda swallowed quickly. Her gaze followed the
caressing water down his body. He had a perfect male form straight from a page
of her romance books. At least six feet tall, his body was lean and muscular.
Desire had her heart racing.

Water dripped down his contoured torso and absorbed
into the towel wrapped tightly around his waist.

“You’re welcome to spend the night, but I’m not
sleeping on the couch,” he said.

Mesmerized, her gaze followed his movements as he
started walking toward her. Standing within Miranda’s comfort zone, he glanced
down at her face. His nearness didn’t trouble her. She felt the attraction and
desire even stronger. Clutching the plastic bags tighter, Miranda suppressed
the need to touch his bare chest and wipe the moisture off his skin. Rich chocolate
brown eyes held her spellbound; the kindness she saw put her at ease.

“I don’t bite. At least not too hard.” His smile was
her undoing, her legs felt weak and if she weren’t careful she’d follow him
anywhere.

His statement brought to mind two lovers intertwined.
Desire raced through her, heating her blood. The magnetism from this man
radiated a rugged sex appeal she couldn’t refuse.Without a doubt, she knew if she spent the
night here they’d have an evening of passionate sex. Staring at the man’s dark
hair and broad shoulders, Miranda couldn’t think of a down side to this
situation. She’d never had a friend with benefits or a one-night stand. Not
even a short-term affair.

He gave her a slow lazy smile. “What’s your name?”

She swallowed quickly to relieve the dryness in her
throat. “Miranda Cummings.”

His grasp felt firm, strong and matched the
confidence she’d seen in his eyes. She wanted to feel his caress on her bare
skin; her body. He stared at their joined hands, and Miranda wondered if he
felt as moved by their touch as she did.

“Scott and Abby have been friends of mine for a long
time. I’d suggest you call and verify my credentials but most cell phones don’t
work up here.” Holding the towel ends at his waist with one hand, he bent down
and with his other hand he retrieved her grocery bag from the deck. The lower
ends of the terrycloth opened slightly revealing a very masculine, toned thigh.
“So Miranda what’s it going to be?” Lifting her bag of groceries up, he asked.
“Do I take this to your car or to the cabin?” His brows arched in an obvious
challenge.

Miranda thought of the divorce papers she’d received
that morning and the freedom she’d experienced for the first time in years. She
wasn’t one to make a snap decision, but her newfound independence and her need
for a weekend away overrode her logical judgment. She nodded. “I’m staying.”